Delta County is the 17th most populous of Colorado's 64 counties, with a still relatively small population with just under 27,000 people. With 1,149 square miles, it sits on the smaller side of the county list. Mostly agricultural, the county is also a large producer of coal. The county also has several good and USA renowned wineries. Apples, peaches, cherries, and several other fruits and veggies are produced locally, both traditional and organically grown.

Two State Parks sit within the county boundaries (Crawford Lake S.P., and Sweitzer Lake State Park), as well as one very close to the county, along with a reservoir for boating (Paonia S.P.) Also nearby, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park borders the south side of the county, although it sits just to the south, it is easily accessible (the north side) for hiking, climbing, fishing on the North Fork of the Gunnison, and camping. For the more driving inclined, there is also the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway.

The area sits on the west side of the West Elk Wilderness, and is part of 2 separate mountain ranges - the West Elks, and the peaks of the Grand Mesa. Additionally, the western edge of the county is primarily a desert region, with a bunch of smaller desert peak hikes, and the Dominguez and Escalante canyons, a recently designated Wilderness area. The elevations of the peaks rank from the low 5000' to more than 11,000', giving it more than a vertical mile in relief. The area comprised of the West Elks that lays within Delta County has some serious topographical relief, rising abruptly from the North Fork Valley. These are the peaks more people are familiar with. The peaks on the Grand Mesa are also somewhat frequented, but much isolation is still to be found anywhere away from the several hundred lakes on the mesa.

Alfred Eames Cellars
Black Bridge Winery
Terror Creek Winery
Stone Cottage Winery

http://www.westerncolorado.org/

Delta County Home Page

There are 4 smaller towns, and several other small townships, all with populations less than 2,000 people, excluding the County Seat, Delta. Crawford, Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Cedaredge round out the top 5. Some other small townships include Orchard City, and Lazear.

Getting There

From Denver, head west on I-70 to Glenwood Springs. Here, you have 2 choices, one shorter in length with about 2 hours of drive time, and one longer in length with the same amount of drive time.

1) Head south from Glenwood Springs on CO-82 to Carbondale (about 14 miles). Head west on Hwy 133 until you get to Delta County. Boom. About 55 miles to the county line. (east access).

2) Drive west to Grand Junction (about an hour), then follow signs south to Montrose on US 550. Drive south to the county line, about 45 minutes. (North and west access).

Weather, seasons, and other considerations.

There is plenty of private land - both owned by private individuals and by (coal) companies. Best to review the Gunnison N.F. maps and the Grand Mesa N.F. Map. Both maps give a good reference to the public/private areas of Delta County, but may not accurately reflect leased holdings.

The mud during the wet season during the desert and upper peaks is unbelievably sticky and can be un-navigable, by foot and vehicle. Winter can bring cold temperatures, summer can be hot, the snow up on the higher peaks (pretty much anything above 6k') can be measured in feet. Lots of feet. The mosquito season on the Grand Mesa is usually late May through mid-August. Long sleeves and pants recommended, as well as your choice of mosquito repellant.

Camping

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Crawford Lake State Park.

Sweitzer Lake State Park.

Grand Mesa National Forest.

Paonia Lake State Park.

Grand Mesa Info on Wikipedia.

The Lists

All peaks:

County Rank, State Rank, Name, Elevation, Saddle, Rise (Prominence), Line Parent, Isolation, Proximate Parent, Quad, Coords
1 1604 Lamborn, Mount 11,396' 9,780' 1,616' Coal Mountain 2.38 Coal Mountain Paonia - 38.8029°N, -107.5227°W
2 1636 Crater Peak 11,327' 9,020' 2,307' Huntsman Ridge North 18.02 Lamborn, Mount D Chalk Mountain - 39.0395°N, -107.6627°W
3 1640 Hatten, Mount 11,310' 10,820' 490' Crater Peak 1.13 Crater Peak Chalk Mountain - 39.0478°N, -107.6809°W
S Darline, Mount 11,306' 11,020' 286' Crater Peak 0.76 Crater Peak Chalk Mountain - 39.0292°N, -107.6580°W
4 1691 Crag Crest 11,189' 10,220' 969' Leon Peak 5.50 Leon Peak & Mesa Grand Mesa - 39.0606°N, -107.9436°W
5 1714 Chalk Mountain 11,146' 10,380' 766' Hatten, Mount 4.62 Hatten, Mount Chalk Mountain - 39.1125°N, -107.6592°W
S 11106 11,106' 10,820' 286' Hatten, Mount 1.81 Hatten, Mount Chalk Mountain - 39.0592°N, -107.7113°W
6 1776 11010 11,010' 10,460' 550' 11063 1.93 11063 & Mesa Leon Peak - 39.0437°N, -107.7713°W
7 1791 Priest Mountain 10,982' 10,620' 362' 11063 1.74 11063 Chalk Mountain - 39.0428°N, -107.7339°W
8 1793 10980 10,980' 10,660' 320' Hatten, Mount 2.70 Hatten, Mount & Mesa Chalk Mountain - 39.0839°N, -107.7002°W
9 1812 Terror Benchmark 10,935' 10,580' 355' Crater Peak 2.22 Crater Peak Chalk Mountain - 39.0136°N, -107.6383°W
10 1857 10855 10,855' 10,500' 355' Leon Peak 1.59 Leon Peak Leon Peak - 39.0612°N, -107.8258°W
11 1869 Spruce Mountain 10,833' 9,145' 1,688' 11130 7.99 Huntsman Ridge North Spruce Mountain - 39.1972°N, -107.5219°W
12 1882 Landsend Peak 10,806' 9,500' 1,306' Lamborn, Mount 2.72 Lamborn, Mount Paonia - 38.7708°N, -107.5517°W
Green Mountain 10,802' 10,700' 102' 11010 2.80 11010 Leon Peak - 39.0041°N, -107.7609°W
13 1969 10623 10,623' 10,260' 363' Crag Crest 2.06 Leon Peak & Mesa Grand Mesa - 39.0710°N, -107.8808°W
S 10420 10,420' 10,140' 280' Leon Peak 1.15 10623 Leon Peak - 39.0586°N, -107.8665°W
14 2130 Electric Mountain 10,304' 9,300' 1,004' Crater Peak 5.78 Chalk Mountain Electric Mountain - 39.0786°N, -107.5608°W
15 2167 10245 10,245' 9,900' 345' Crater Peak 3.67 Terror Benchmark Gray Reservoir - 38.9759°N, -107.6863°W
16 2246 Doughty Mountain 10,111' 9,780' 331' Priest Mountain 2.41 Priest Mountain Chalk Mountain - 39.0083°N, -107.7278°W
Oil Well Mountain 10,085' 9,820' 265' Spruce Mountain 4.14 Spruce Mountain & Mesa Spruce Mountain - 39.1681°N, -107.5893°W
17 2308 South Saddle Peak 10,005' 8,420' 1,585' Mendicant Ridge HP 3.66 Big Sand Mountain Crawford - 38.7052°N, -107.5156°W
18 2466 North Saddle Peak 9,728' 9,340' 388' South Saddle Peak 0.67 South Saddle Peak Crawford - 38.7118°N, -107.5248°W
19 2595 9522 9,522' 9,180' 342' Chalk Mountain 3.21 Electric Mountain Electric Mountain - 39.1194°N, -107.5894°W
Chimney Rocks 9,380' 9,340' 40' 9522 0.49 9522 Electric Mountain - 39.1195°N, -107.5986°W
20 2733 Oak Mesa 9,295' 8,940' 355' 10245 2.76 10245 Gray Reservoir - 38.9486°N, -107.7238°W
21 2888 9070 9,070' 8,580' 490' Spruce Mountain 3.86 9522 Spruce Mountain - 39.1345°N, -107.5201°W
Durkee Ridge 8,860' 8,820' 40' 11010 4.54 Doughty Mountain Dry Creek - 38.9757°N, -107.8011°W
22 3073 8787 8,787' 8,084' 703' 10245 5.52 10245 Bowie - 38.9317°N, -107.6009°W
Spaulding Peak 8,583' 8,420' 163' 11010 5.96 10855 Dry Creek - 38.9784°N, -107.8563°W
23 3421 8343 8,343' 7,980' 363' Buck Mesa 3.52 Pilot Knob Bowie - 38.9801°N, -107.5178°W
24 3477 Jumbo Mountain 8,275' 7,900' 375' Gunnison, Mount 4.76 8601 Bowie - 38.8891°N, -107.5182°W
Wilbanks Mesa 8,174' 7,980' 194' 11010 7.01 10855 Dry Creek - 38.9651°N, -107.8674°W
McDonald Mesa 8,139' 7,980' 159' Landsend Peak 1.59 Landsend Peak Paonia - 38.7889°N, -107.5700°W
Iron Point 8,100' 8,020' 80' Terror Benchmark 1.29 8343 Bowie - 38.9848°N, -107.5410°W
25 3725 Needle Rock 7,874' 7,180' 694' Landsend Peak 1.61 North Saddle Peak Crawford - 38.7245°N, -107.5498°W
S Fry Mesa 7,500' 7,220' 280' 10245 2.80 8787 Gray Reservoir - 38.9007°N, -107.6344°W
26 3939 Black Ridge 7,470' 6,830' 640' Poison Spring Hill 3.65 Green Mountain NW Black Ridge - 38.6713°N, -107.7995°W
27 3958 Youngs Peak 7,420' 6,780' 640' Landsend Peak 3.19 Needle Rock Crawford - 38.7114°N, -107.6064°W
S Redlands Mesa 7,420' 7,140' 280' 11010 5.10 Oak Mesa Dry Creek - 38.9059°N, -107.8010°W
Cedar Mesa 7,380' 7,260' 120' 11010 8.90 Oak Mesa Cedaredge - 38.9331°N, -107.8881°W
Wakefield Mesa 7,165' 7,100' 65' Oak Mesa 4.05 8787 Gray Reservoir - 38.8885°N, -107.6516°W
28 4089 Elephant Hill 7,056' 6,740' 316' Lamborn, Mount 2.95 Jumbo Mountain Paonia - 38.8515°N, -107.5440°W
29 4110 6991 6,991' 6,170' 821' 7113 3.45 Black Ridge Black Ridge - 38.7003°N, -107.8515°W
30 4149 6869 6,869' 6,538' 331' 6991 1.82 6991 Black Ridge - 38.6748°N, -107.8598°W
Lennox Mesa 6,850' 6,820' 30' Jumbo Mountain 1.48 Jumbo Mountain Bowie - 38.8934°N, -107.5451°W
Beebe Mesa 6,710' 6,670' 40' Crag Crest 15.09 Crag Crest North - 38.8676°N, -108.0744°W
Crawford Mesa 6,609' 6,500' 109' Youngs Peak 0.83 Youngs Peak Crawford - 38.7027°N, -107.6170°W
S 6580 6,580' 6,300' 280' Crag Crest 13.03 Crag Crest Hells Kitchen - 38.8902°N, -108.0471°W
Grand View Mesa 6,518' 6,350' 168' Youngs Peak 4.26 Youngs Peak Grand View Mesa - 38.6998°N, -107.6839°W
31 4239 6510 6,510' 6,162' 348' Oak Mesa 6.98 Oak Mesa Hotchkiss - 38.8479°N, -107.7168°W
S Petrie Mesa 6,441' 6,150' 291' Crag Crest 10.31 6570 North - 38.8315°N, -108.1066°W
32 4256 6430 6,430' 6,010' 420' Oak Mesa 0.98 6510 Hotchkiss - 38.8398°N, -107.7317°W
January Mesa 6,430' 6,410' 20' Crag Crest 11.85 6570 North - 38.8722°N, -108.0580°W
Redtop Peak 6,380' 6,180' 200' Jumbo Mountain 2.68 Jumbo Mountain Bowie - 38.8875°N, -107.5679°W
Bluenose Mesa 6,340' 6,220' 120' Crag Crest 9.83 Crag Crest Cedaredge - 38.9212°N, -107.9792°W
Stucker Mesa 6,340' 6,300' 40' Oak Mesa 4.29 6510 Hotchkiss - 38.8741°N, -107.6447°W
Negro Mesa 6,326' 6,190' 136' Crag Crest 10.67 6570 North - 38.8505°N, -108.0883°W
Scenic Mesa 6,307' 6,070' 237' Youngs Peak 3.11 6991 Black Ridge - 38.7390°N, -107.8221°W
S Cedar Hill 6,180' 5,900' 280' Lamborn, Mount 2.93 Elephant Hill Paonia - 38.8594°N, -107.5974°W
Lamborn Mesa 6,100' 6,020' 80' Lamborn, Mount 2.30 Elephant Hill Paonia - 38.8498°N, -107.5867°W
Cottonwood Mesa 6,050' 5,990' 60' Landsend Peak 4.21 Youngs Peak Hotchkiss - 38.7664°N, -107.6400°W
Rogers Mesa 6,030' 6,010' 20' 11010 2.88 6430 Lazear - 38.8285°N, -107.7831°W
Barrow Mesa 6,010' 5,870' 140' Oak Mesa 0.91 6430 Hotchkiss - 38.8296°N, -107.7425°W
Doctor Mesa 5,934' 5,740' 194' Crag Crest 13.76 6570 North - 38.8496°N, -108.0284°W
33 4315 5916 5,916' 5,440' 476' Snipe Mountain 1.94 Triangle Mesa Dominguez - 38.8210°N, -108.3682°W
34 4317 5870 5,870' 5,570' 300' Crag Crest 10.58 Crag Crest North - 38.8196°N, -108.1101°W
Antelope Hill 5,850' 5,610' 240' 11010 9.73 6991 Orchard City - 38.8256°N, -107.9336°W
Powell Mesa 5,850' 5,750' 100' 6510 0.94 6430 Hotchkiss - 38.8303°N, -107.7193°W
Bone Mesa 5,850' 5,770' 80' Landsend Peak 4.98 Landsend Peak Hotchkiss - 38.8072°N, -107.6313°W
Stewart Mesa 5,810' 5,670' 140' Landsend Peak 4.36 6510 Hotchkiss - 38.8356°N, -107.6375°W
Devils Thumb 5,810' 5,750' 60' Crag Crest 11.95 6570 North - 38.8146°N, -108.0840°W
Spurlin Mesa 5,810' 5,750' 60' Youngs Peak 5.15 Youngs Peak Hotchkiss - 38.7677°N, -107.6688°W
35 4319 5793 5,793' 5,490' 303' Crag Crest 0.66 5870 North - 38.8139°N, -108.1002°W
Escalante Rim 5,780' 5,660' 120' 10012 8.40 Star Mesa Good Point - 38.7285°N, -108.2596°W
S 5710 5,710' 5,420' 290' Crag Crest 4.80 5793 Point Creek - 38.8074°N, -108.1888°W
36 4333 5684 5,684' 5,340' 344' Crag Crest 7.07 5916 Point Creek - 38.7938°N, -108.2417°W
Adobe Buttes 5,630' 5,530' 100' Crag Crest 4.45 5793 North - 38.8360°N, -108.0226°W
Smiths Mountain 5,628' 5,390' 238' 6991 6.70 6991 Orchard City - 38.7736°N, -107.9326°W
37 4334 Dominguez Rim 5,627' 5,260' 367' 5684 2.72 5684 Dominguez - 38.7661°N, -108.2776°W
Hanson Mesa 5,590' 5,530' 60' Oak Mesa 2.10 6430 Hotchkiss - 38.8111°N, -107.7190°W
38 4341 5551 5,551' 5,246' 305' Crag Crest 2.83 5916 Dominguez - 38.8076°N, -108.3185°W
39 4343 5450 5,450' 5,140' 310' 5684 2.79 5684 Point Creek - 38.7555°N, -108.2255°W
McCarty Bench 5,380' 5,340' 40' Snipe Mountain 1.53 Dominguez Rim Good Point - 38.7443°N, -108.2731°W
Garnet Mesa 5,230' 5,155' 75' 7113 7.68 5793 -38.7267°N, -108.0121°W

The peaks on ListsofJohn.com and Known access (Public or Private)

Peak	Elevation	Land Agency/Access
Lamborn, Mount	11,396'	NF
Crater Peak	11,327'	NF
Hatten, Mount	11,310'	NF
Darline, Mount	11,306'	NF
Crag Crest	11,189'	NF
Chalk Mountain	11,146'	NF
UN 11,106	11,106'	NF
UN 11,010	11,010'	NF
Priest Mountain	10,982'	NF
UN 10,980	10,980'	NF
Terror Benchmark	10,935'	NF
UN 10,855	10,855'	NF
Spruce Mountain	10,833'	NF
Landsend Peak	10,806'	NF
Green Mountain	10,802'	NF
UN 10,623	10,623'	NF
UN 10,420	10,420'	NF
Electric Mountain	10,304'	NF
UN 10,245	10,245'	NF
Doughty Mountain	10,111'	NF
Oil Well Mountain	10,085'	NF
South Saddle Peak	10,005'	NF
North Saddle Peak	9,728'	NF
UN 9,522	9,522'	NF
Chimney Rocks	9,380'	NF
Oak Mesa	9,295'	PRIV
UN 9,070	9,070'	PRIV
Durkee Ridge	8,860'	UNK
UN 8,787	8,787'	BLM
Spaulding Peak	8,583'	UNK
UN 8,343	8,343'	NF
Jumbo Mountain	8,275'	BLM/NF/PRIV
Wilbanks Mesa	8,174'	UNK
McDonald Mesa	8,139'	UNK
Iron Point	8,100'	NF
Needle Rock	7,874'	BLM
Fry Mesa	7,500'	NF
Black Ridge	7,470'	BLM
Youngs Peak	7,420'	BLM
Redlands Mesa	7,420'	UNK
Cedar Mesa	7,380'	UNK
Wakefield Mesa	7,165'	UNK
Elephant Hill	7,056'	BLM
UN 6,991	6,991'	BLM
UN 6,869	6,869'	BLM
Lennox Mesa	6,850'	UNK
Beebe Mesa	6,710'	UNK
Crawford Mesa	6,609'	UNK
UN 6,580	6,580'	NF
Grand View Mesa	6,518'	BLM?
UN 6,510	6,510'	BLM
Petrie Mesa	6,441'	BLM
UN 6,430	6,430'	NF
January Mesa	6,430'	UNK
Redtop Peak	6,380'	BLM/PRIV
Bluenose Mesa	6,340'	UNK
Stucker Mesa	6,340'	UNK
Negro Mesa	6,326'	UNK
Scenic Mesa	6,307'	UNK
Cedar Hill	6,180'	CITY
Lamborn Mesa	6,100'	UNK
Cottonwood Mesa	6,050'	UNK
Rogers Mesa	6,030'	UNK
Barrow Mesa	6,010'	UNK
Doctor Mesa	5,934'	UNK
UN 5,916	5,916'	BLM
UN 5,870	5,870'	BLM
Antelope Hill	5,850'	PRIV
Powell Mesa	5,850'	UNK
Bone Mesa	5,850'	BLM
Stewart Mesa	5,810'	UNK
Devils Thumb	5,810'	BLM
Spurlin Mesa	5,810'	UNK
UN 5,793	5,793'	BLM
Escalante Rim	5,780'	BLM/WILDERNESS AREA
UN 5,710	5,710'	BLM
UN 5,684	5,684'	BLM
Adobe Buttes	5,630'	UNK
Smiths Mountain	5,628'	BLM
Dominguez Rim	5,627'	BLM/WILDERNESS AREA
Hanson Mesa	5,590'	PRIV
UN 5,551	5,551'	BLM
UN 5,450	5,450'	BLM
McCarty Bench	5,380'	UNK
Garnet Mesa	5,230'	UNK

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